Kents Hill Invests in Snow, Science, and Sustainability

Last year was one for the history books at Kents Hill School. For the first time in more than 30 years, the boys alpine ski racing team claimed the Class B NEPSAC Championship and the O’Connor Alpine Training Center (the school’s on-campus slope) welcomed more than 60 Kents Hill students and over 40 u8-u14 skiers and riders community programs throughout the season.

With the arrival of Dr. Molly MacKean as Head of School, the school has taken bold steps forward to not just celebrate Maine in the winter, but invest in it. Academic classes have been reimagined so that they don’t just happen in Maine. They happen because of Maine. Across the curriculum, students and teachers are thinking critically about the most pressing issues that we face now, and in the future: climate change, sustainability, and being responsible stewards of the environment that we are fortunate to call home.

That vision continued to take shape with the arrival of Andrew Willihan, Snow Sports Director and Associate Athletic Director, who joined Kents Hill in Fall 2024 after nearly a decade leading the snow sports program at the University of Maine at Farmington. From the moment he set foot on campus, he saw something special in the hill, and he wasted no time rallying the community to dream bigger.

Over the course of five months, Willihan delved into studying the hill's infrastructure, operations, and rich history of providing an exceptional on-snow experience for not only the Kents Hill community, but also skiers ranging from local elementary and middle school students to top NCAA and USCSA college athletes. A campaign grounded in sustainability, accessibility, and innovation quickly emerged. Thanks to the generosity of a lead donor and industry partners, Kents Hill has completed a full modernization of the existing snowmaking system. In addition to key improvements in the power supply and hill ergonomics, Kents Hill partnered with Demac Lenko to double its equipment from four to eight snowmaking units—adding four powerful Ventus Fan Guns and four Eos Lances. 

According to Becky Kimball, Kents Hill’s Director of Athletics, “The new snowmaking system is a transformative investment in our school. It ensures a longer, more reliable season, giving athletes consistent training, staff greater stability in planning, and all students expanded access to snow sports. Most importantly, it strengthens the hill as a central hub of campus life, preserving the traditions that define our winters.”

Future plans include enhancing accessibility by replacing the rope tow with a more user-friendly lift, ensuring everyone - from first-timers to seasoned racers - can enjoy the hill. And with the advanced snowmaking technology comes real-time data, which will fuel classroom learning across disciplines like engineering, chemistry, environmental science, technology, economics, and snow science.

“This project reflects the belief that snow sports are more than recreation - they are a tradition, a teacher, and a connector of people,” says Willihan. “The O’Connor Alpine Center is now positioned not just to train champions, but to inspire the next generation of skiers, riders, and innovators.”

For more information about Kents Hill School, please contact Andrew Willihan at awillihan@kentshill.org.